Clippers resume lengthy sojourn against Pistons

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers will continue their long road trip Wednesday night when they visit The Palace of Auburn Hills to take on the struggling Detroit Pistons.

The Clippers are on game five of a seven-game odyssey east. They are 3-1 thus far with the only setback coming in Memphis to the Grizzlies on Sunday, but got back into the win column with a 113-92 drubbing of the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Blake Griffin amassed 22 points in a near triple-double, and five other Los Angeles players scored in double figures as the Clippers pulled away for the victory.

Griffin grabbed 16 rebounds and added nine assists to lead a Clippers' attack that shot 52.4 percent in the second half. Chris Paul turned in a monster game as well for Los Angeles, with the North Carolina native tallying 22 points along with 15 assists.

Jamal Crawford chipped in 21 points off the bench and JJ Redick recorded 17 points for the Clippers, with DeAndre Jordan contributing a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

"I thought Blake and Chris set the tone for us on both ends, and I thought that was big," said Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.

The Clippers visit the Houston Rockets on Friday, then close out the sojourn on Saturday against the Utah Jazz.

The Pistons dropped their fifth straight on Tuesday night with a road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. They haven't won since a road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 14.

Andre Drummond ended with 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who have lost three in a row at home. Greg Monroe had 15 points and eight boards, while Josh Smith registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. D.J. Augustin, who started in place of Brandon Jennings, who sat with a hyperextended left thumb, also finished with 11.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy can best tell the story of Detroit's loss.

"We gave them 19 offensive rebounds, we had 19 turnovers and we were 7-of-17 at the free-throw line," he said. "They hit 10 3-pointers. Those were the four factors in the game. There's really nothing else to talk about."

The Pistons start a four-game homestand with the Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers heading to The Palace.

The Clippers have won six straight over the Pistons and four in a row at The Palace. Detroit, however, is 15-5 in its last 20 as the host versus the Clippers.